I wanted to take a moment to share something meaningful from MLK Day.
I had the joy of speaking to a group of early childhood educators at Children’s Lighthouse of Apex during their professional development workshop. We explored how to better support communication in early learners. What to notice. How to respond. And how to create learning environments that truly center each child’s voice.
One of the most powerful questions I received at the end was, “How do we start this conversation with parents?”
My answer? With warmth and understanding.
These are people’s children. No matter how much training we bring into the room, the families we work with deserve to feel supported, not judged. It’s never about saying something is wrong with a child. It’s about asking, “What can we do to better serve them?” and equipping educators with the resources and tools to help.
As a speech-language pathologist and the founder of My Roar Therapy, I’m reminded every day that communication is a human right. And compassion is where it begins.
Sharing this experience on MLK Day made it even more meaningful. Dr. King’s legacy challenges us to act in ways that build equity, especially in the spaces closest to us. That includes classrooms. That includes conversations. That includes the way we show up for our youngest learners and their families.
If you’re ever looking to bring this kind of training or conversation into your own space, whether with staff, educators, or parent communities, I’d be honored to connect.
Warmly,
Kayla Brown